I went into this book with high hopes. The premises sounded really promising: the murder of a woman who can feel no pain. But sadly, the book was anything but interesting. I kept waiting for something to happen, but it never did until the final ten percent of the book.

For most of the story, I spent hating the men in Anna's life. Her older brother Tony is a complete narcissist and her employer Nate seems to be nursing a raging temper. I couldn't understand why she kept letting both of these men treat her like complete shit. Then I realized she wasn't the least bit likable herself. Everything about her was just as fake as with the men.

The story's twist wasn't shocking you could see it coming from a mile away. I ended up feeling bored and uninvested in anything going on. Overall I feel like You Can't Hurt Me struggled with a pacing problem. I know other people might enjoy this story but it just wasn't for me.

That said I did enjoy the narrator for this story and would listen to other books by them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this ALC.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really loved this one! I am not the best at writing reviews sometimes, but sometimes books take you by surprise and this one did just that. I got invested a few chapters in and couldn't put it done. It was so good! I highly recommend this one.

I really enjoyed this book. The narrator did an excellent job. The author did amazing writing with both the characters and story line. The book kept me interested from the beginning with the way the mysteries develop around the women... it keeps you reading to find out their secrets. I love the surprise ending, and the fact that I didn't see it coming. I can't wait to read more from this author. I definitely recommend this book to other readers.

Thank you Net Galley, Harlequin Audio, and Emma Cook

3.5 stars. I didn’t really know what kind of book I was getting into here but it was a fun thriller. Nobody was particularly likable but it was an enjoyable ride lol

Thank YOU so much to @htp_hive and @htpbooks for this ARC as a part of your influencer program! I am so thankful to be a part of The Hive! 🐝⁠ PUB DATE: OUT NOW!!

This book is part obsession & part mystery. 🫣

Eva can’t feel pain, literally. For that reason— reporters & researches have been fascinated with her & her condition.

When Eva is is suddenly found dead in her home, a lot theories come out about what actually happened & every journalist wants the scoop.

A journalist named Anna, who is pretty obsessed with Eva’s life if you ask me— wiggles her way into Eva’s husbands life & eventually becomes a ghost writer for his book. 💻

What’s fact? What’s fiction? You’ll have to read to find out!

This book was a slow burn for me & I feel like not enough happened to really hold my attention. It ended up seeming a tad unrealistic to me & even though I did like the ending— the book as a whole was just not a memorable one for me.

Thank you to netgalley, htp hive & the author for the gifted alc🫶🏼

A mystery / domestic thriller to an extent? I was pretty drawn in initially to this one. The idea of someone who feels no pain is so interesting but I was sad that she really didn’t really have a view point in the story. I thought that particular story line could have been really interesting. I did like the ghost writer aspect! I wasn’t sure who to trust the entire time. While I got creepy vibes from Nate I also got them from Tony & Pria & honestly even Anna!

It has to be something truly special for a thriller to grab me & keep be entertained the whole time so I don’t feel like this one had enough twists, turns, & surprises for me! Honestly felt very meh 🫤

You Can’t Hurt Me by Emma Cook
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Anna is a journalist looking to get an exclusive from the well known Dr Nate Reid regarding his research on pain. His late wife Eva could not feel pain and her recent death was a bit mysterious.
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What I liked:
-The mysteries revolving around both women were engrossing. I wanted to know all their secrets.
-There was a great reveal in here that I didn’t see coming. I can always appreciate when a little twist gets me!
-There was audio was fantastic! I loved the narrator, they did so well giving a voice to both Anna and Eva.
-The ending surprised me!
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Anna get the job as a ghost writer for Nate Reid, she finds more questions than answers. Nate is grieving the loss of his wife Eva. Nate is a neuroscientist that studies the science of pain. Eva has a rare condition that she cannot feel pain. Eva is Nate's subject, they fall in love and get married. When Eva is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Nate is looked at by the family.
Anna tries to find answers as she works on the book. And she is becoming a little too close to Nate.
This was fun and twisty read. This one kept me guessing.

The premise here initially caught my attention, Eva has a condition where she can’t feel pain. When she dies a journalist named Anna is drawn to her story and her husband. As interesting as that all is I wanted more action, nothing exciting ever happened and in the end I was underwhelmed. I do credit the narrator for me even finishing this she was excellent and engaging

Many thanks to @htp_hive and @htpbooks for a copy of this audiobook, all opinions are my own.

The premise of this book was so interesting. I loved how much neuroscience was incorporated and found those bits to really separate this book from others. The details on the experiments as well as the extras included (the reflection journal & chapters of the memoir) were a great way to break the story up. The narrator was incredible, she was super engaging and I thought she suited Anna's personality well. While there were many parts that I enjoyed, I found the book to be quite predictable. I had anticipated many of the twists and I wished Anna had been more of an unreliable narrator. There was one bit that genuinely surprised me and I wanted more of that from this book. The set-up was there but the execution fell a bit short 3.75⭐️. I would definitely read more from this author.

Eva and Nate. The dynamic couple that everyone is fascinated with because Nate is a neurologist and his wife, Eva, is a sculptor and aspiring therapist who used to be his patient. Eva was diagnosed with a medical condition that does not allow her to feel any pain. One day, Eva dies unexpectedly and we have zero answers. Nobody wants to talk. Her husband won’t say a word except announcing that he is writing a memoir regarding his wife. Sketch. But maybe that will give us some answers?

If you like slow burns then this one is for you! Unfortunately I am not the biggest fan of slow burn thrillers, but I can say this one kept my interest because I needed all the answers! And those answers are not what you expect 👀. I loved how the author added in Eva’s personal diary, giving us readers the opportunity to know things the main characters did not. I think it really brought emotion to an otherwise tense read because you really get to feel Eva’s loneliness and how isolated she was from the rest of the world, even her husband.

“Pain defines our quality of life.”

Thank you Harper Collins, The Hive, and NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest review!

Eva has a condition where she can't feel pain, and she dies of a drug-induced heart attack. Her husband, Nate, is a neuroscientist studying pain. When a journalist approaches him about doing an article on his work, she ends up basically ghostwriting a book about his wife's life with this condition. I didn't feel any suspense while reading and I could guess where the plot was going throughout the whole book. Overall, it was okay.

Thank you to The Hive for this ALC in exchange for an honest review!
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Book Review
You Can’t Hurt Me by Emma Cook

Nate is a scientist studying pain, Eva is his most unique patient because she’s never felt it. Naturally, they married. Mysteriously, she died. Someone has to get to the bottom of things, why not journalist Anna Tate? ✍🏻

Things I loved:
💊 twists
💕 complicated romantic connections
🪦 parallels with Anna’s past

Fast-paced, and kept me guessing! I recommend this one to fans of Ruth Ware and Riley Sager. 📚

You can’t hurt me by Emma Cook was an exciting thriller about Anna who is ghost writer making a biography about Eva’s life and her husband Nate’s grief. Nate is a doing research on pain and pain management and Eva has a condition where she doesn’t feel any pain.

I was nervous going into this book because it hard for me to get into thrillers but I loved it. What a twist in the end. I won’t give away spoilers but I wasn’t expecting that character to be the bad one! And the growth Anna makes as a woman is wonderful to read about!

It’s an okay thriller audiobook! Thank you for the opportunity to listen. I didn’t love the characters

The narration was clear and concise. No complaints there. The narrator didn’t bring too much personality to the characters but it was still easy to follow. As for the story, whew. What a mess (not derogatory). Oh BROTHER. This was obviously over the top and heavy on the dramatics but it was still a good time. Lean into the unbelievable and enjoy the popcorn thriller for what it is and you will have a good time. I didn’t connect much with the characters but I liked the story overall regardless.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was hooked at the very beginning of the book. The premise sounded really good.

The build up and investigation into what happened to the wife was written well. I do think that the conclusion was not as wild as I thought it would be based on the slow build up.

I was able to guess most of what actually happed on that night in specific.

The narration was good. I would definitely listen to more by them. I wish there would have been more suspense and drama based on the storyline.

I hadn't heard of this book until I saw it listed in an email from a publisher offering an audiobook for review. I decided to give it a go, and while familiar in structure, it kept me engaged with a few unexpected twists.

The book begins with the shocking discovery of Eva Reid's lifeless body in her home. Eva was born with a condition that prevented her from ever feeling physical pain. Her rare condition has always drawn intrigue—both scientific and personal. Her husband, Dr. Nate Reid, is a celebrated scientist who built his career studying pain, including Eva's condition.

Anna Tate is a journalist drawn to the case. Anna has a troubled past, which helps drive her tenacious personality, and she becomes determined to find out if Eva truly overdosed or if something else was at play. When Anna is pegged to help pen Nate's biography, she gets a front-row seat and access to their home - a home that may hold the answers she seeks. Anna places herself into the Reid household, peeling back layers of their relationship and uncovering secrets that cast doubt on Nate's intentions and Eva's death. Nate's clinical fascination with Eva, combined with the power dynamics of their marriage, raises red flags that Anna can't ignore. But the more time she spends with Nate, the more she can't help but feel drawn to him - which may be her downfall.

Anna's character is especially intriguing. While Eva couldn't feel physical pain, Anna discovered that the woman definitely had a lot of emotional pain she carried with her - and Anna understands all too well what carrying a lifetime of emotional baggage can do to you. A survivor of her own traumas, she's relentless in her pursuit of the truth, though she is not without her flaws. Her obsession with Eva's seemingly "perfect" existence creates a compelling tension throughout the story.

While many of the characters are well-drawn, some of the supporting cast - particularly the character of Nate - feel more like plot devices than fully fleshed-out individuals. Nate's character hit every beat you would expect, and I found him to be somewhat dull.

While the premise is fascinating and the character dynamics compelling, the mystery itself unfolds in a somewhat predictable manner. Cook employs many familiar tropes of the domestic thriller genre: the brilliant yet sinister husband, the "perfect" wife with a hidden darkness, and the obsessive outsider determined to uncover the truth. However, Cook manages to inject enough surprises to keep the reader guessing, particularly in the book's second half. The revelations, while not groundbreaking, are satisfying and well-paced.
What really grabbed me was the novel's exploration of pain - not just as a physical sensation but as an emotional and psychological force. Eva's inability to feel pain is juxtaposed with Anna's inability to escape it, creating a powerful contrast.

Alix Dunmore narrates the audiobook, and she did a great job! Her performance elevates the material, bringing nuance and vitality to the characters. Her portrayal of Anna is particularly strong, capturing the journalist’s mix of determination, vulnerability, and bitterness. Dunmore’s narration enhances the tension in key moments, adding to the atmosphere and tension.

If you’re a fan of domestic thrillers with layered protagonists and enjoy pondering the complexities of human nature, You Can’t Hurt Me is a solid choice. While it may not redefine the genre, its engaging premise, unexpected twists, and excellent audiobook narration make it a worthwhile addition to your reading list.

I am so grateful to @htp_hive @htpbooks & @harlequin_audio @netgalley for 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝑪𝑨𝑵'𝑻 𝑯𝑼𝑹𝑻 𝑴𝑬 𝒃𝒚 𝑬𝒎𝒎𝒂 𝑪𝒐𝒐𝒌 & 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝑨𝒍𝒊𝒙 𝑫𝒖𝒏𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆.

I found the idea of a woman who can feel no pain fascinating. Then to find out that she is only posthumously in the story piqued my interest further. Eva's husband, Nate is a researcher specifically on pain. He wants to write a book about Eva and needs the help of a ghostwriter, which Anna works her way into with her journalistic skills. Secrets begin to rise to the surface about the truth of Eva and Nate, and Anna's too.

Beginning this in written form was helpful with some of the epistolary chapters, and then heading to work and having the audio keep me company was fabulous, finally to return home and finish the final chapters with the quick turn of the page was perfect. I love that I can stay in a story all day!

I enjoyed some of the deeper probing of the questions of the value of pain in this book. While none of us wish for it or run to it, pain is an essential human experience in all its physical and emotional forms. To not feel it is to lack something that goes deeper. I did appreciate this viewpoint, though I will still do my best to avoid pain!

This is a relatively quick story at just under 300 pages and gives a bit of thought inside of this novel. I very much appreciated the way the book started and ended. Very clever structuring! It's worth a quick refresh of the 1st chapter after the epilogue to smirk a bit.

For some reason I just couldn't get into this psychological thriller. I was intrigued by the premise of a patient who has a condition in which she feels no pain and ends up marrying her psychologist only to end up mysteriously dead. Then later another doctor becomes obsessed with her case and in the course of research uncovers some shocking secrets. Unfortunately I wasn't a fan of the narrator and she kind of put me off the whole story causing me to DNF early on. I would still recommend this book for fans of The silent patient but for some reason it was a miss for me. Reading in print might be a better alternative some time in the future. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.